Sen. Lindsey Graham

Maddy summaryThe Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2022 establishes a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Commerce to fund coordinated sea turtle rescue efforts along U.S. coasts. It provides $5 million annually (2023-2028) for grants to organizations that rescue, rehabilitate, and study stranded marine turtles, prioritizing groups with proven experience in these activities. Grants cover recovery, medical care, data collection, and facility costs directly tied to rescuing turtles, with funds distributed equitably based on historical stranding rates and conservation needs in designated coastal regions. The program aims to support existing rescue networks rather than create new government operations, directly benefiting coastal communities and marine conservation groups working with threatened or endangered sea turtle species.

Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2021 This bill provides statutory authority for the Coastal Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Among other things, the program identifies the most important natural resource problems and solutions in priority coastal ecosystems in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, private individuals, and corporations; and assists in the development and implementation of monitoring protocols to ensure the success of coastal ecosystem restoration and enhancement measures.

This joint resolution nullifies the interim final rule submitted by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security and published on March 29, 2022, concerning procedures for the consideration of asylum claims and other related issues. (Among other changes, the interim final rule requires an asylum seeker subject to expedited removal to be screened by an asylum officer for a credible fear of persecution or torture, rather than a credible fear of persecution, reasonable possibility of persecution, or reasonable possibility of torture.)

This resolution expresses gratitude to Qatar for its support for Operation Allies Refuge, which evacuated U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, allies, and partners from Afghanistan.

Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching Act of 2022 or the ACCESS Act of 20 22 This bill requires large communications platform providers with more than 100 million monthly users (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) to establish interfaces (e.g., application programming interfaces [APIs]) that make user data portable and services interoperable. These interfaces must be made available for users and competitor platforms to access and transfer such user data. Competitors accessing user data through an interface must keep the data reasonably secure and may not use it for commercial purposes. Users also may designate third parties that meet certain requirements, including registering with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to manage their user data. A communications platform may place reasonable limits on competitors' access to its interoperability interface. The bill further requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop model technical standards for implementing platform interoperability.

COPS on the Beat Grant Program Parity Act of 2022 This bill makes changes to the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program. Among the changes, the bill reduces the required matching contribution for certain rural communities during the first three years of a grant and eliminates the preference for agencies that exceed the matching requirements; allows grant funds to be used to increase wages of career law enforcement officers in states or localities that have a median household income of less than 70% of the national median household income and qualify for a reduced matching contribution; and provides statutory authority for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on whether law enforcement workforces are representative of the communities they serve, the percentage of law enforcement officers who live in the community they serve, the average pay of officers compared to the cost of living in the community they serve, and recommendations for improvements.

Maddy summarySRES 643 is a Senate resolution designating the week of May 15-21, 2022, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers who serve and sacrifice in their communities. The resolution recognizes the service of law enforcement officers, particularly those killed or injured in the line of duty, and acknowledges their sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic. It expresses support for officers' needs for proper equipment, training, and resources, and encourages the public to observe the week by honoring law enforcement personnel. This designation serves as a formal recognition of law enforcement service without creating new legal requirements or policy changes.

Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the memorial and the service and sacrifice of American soldiers and civilians during World War II. All surcharges received from the sale of such coins shall be paid to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial to support the National Park Service in maintaining and repairing the memorial, and for educational and commemorative programs.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Expansion and Redesignation Act This bill redesignates the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site as the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park and expands the park. The park is expanded to include the land and interests in land as generally depicted on the map titled Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Boundary Additions and Affiliated Areas , and dated February 2022, and more particularly described as the Summerton High School site in Summerton, South Carolina; the former Scott's Branch High School site in Summerton; and approximately one acre of land adjacent to Monroe Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas. The Department of the Interior may acquire this land by donation, exchange, or purchase. Any property owned by South Carolina, Kansas, or any political subdivision of those states may be acquired by donation. Interior shall submit to Congress an amendment to the management plan for the historical park to include the portions of the historical park in Summerton. The bill establishes as affiliated areas of the National Park System the Robert Russa Moton Museum in Farmville, Virginia; the Delaware Brown v. Board of Education civil rights sites, including Claymont High School in Claymont, Delaware; and the John Philip Sousa Middle School in the District of Columbia. Interior shall develop a management plan for each affiliated area.

This resolution expresses that the Senate has heard of the death of the Honorable Orrin G. Hatch, former U.S. Senator for the state of Utah. The resolution also expresses that the Senate honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Hatch for his unwavering dedication to Utah as a Senator and a public servant and accomplishments in legislating with principle and dedication for the good of the people of the United States. The resolution states when the Senate adjourns today, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Hatch.